Compare crop varieties side by side on maturity, yield, disease resistance, seed cost, and estimated ROI. Choose the best variety for your operation.
Choosing the right crop variety is one of the most impactful management decisions. Varieties differ in yield potential, maturity (days to harvest), disease resistance packages, seed cost, and market fit. Comparing these factors side by side helps you select the variety that maximizes return on investment for your specific conditions.
This calculator lets you enter data for two varieties and computes the expected gross revenue per acre for each, then ranks them by estimated ROI. It accounts for yield, price, and seed cost to provide a simple economic comparison.
Use this alongside seed company trial data, university variety trial results, and your own on-farm experience to make informed variety decisions. Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this free online tool provides instant, reliable results without manual computation. By automating the calculation, you save time and reduce the risk of costly errors in your planning and decision-making process. This tool handles all the complex arithmetic so you can focus on interpreting results and making informed decisions based on accurate data.
Seed catalogs list dozens of varieties, and marketing claims don't always match field performance. A simple side-by-side economic comparison cuts through the noise and highlights which variety delivers the best bottom-line result for your price and yield expectations. Having a precise figure at your fingertips empowers better planning and more confident decisions.
Gross Revenue/ac = Yield/ac × Price/unit Gross Profit/ac = Gross Revenue/ac − Seed Cost/ac ROI = Gross Profit / Seed Cost × 100%
Result: A: $1,220/ac profit · B: $1,115/ac profit → A wins by $105/ac
Variety A: 200 bu × $6.50 − $80 seed = $1,220/ac. Variety B: 180 bu × $6.50 − $55 seed = $1,115/ac. Despite higher seed cost, Variety A's 20 bushel yield advantage generates $105/ac more profit.
Compare varieties on five dimensions: yield potential, maturity, disease resistance, seed cost, and market fit. Assign weights based on your priorities — yield matters most in commodity farming, while market fit (appearance, flavor, shelf life) matters in direct-market and specialty production.
The best variety data comes from your own fields. Plant at least two side-by-side strips (same planting date, same management) and weigh each at harvest. Repeat for 2-3 years to separate variety performance from year effects.
Premium seed typically costs $20-$80+/ac more than generic alternatives. If the premium variety yields 5% more, that's worth $30-$65/ac at current commodity prices. When the yield gain exceeds the cost premium, the investment is justified.
Variety can swing yield by 10-30% within the same field and management system. University variety trials show consistent yield differences of 20-50+ bushels in corn and 5-15 bushels in soybeans between top and bottom varieties.
Not necessarily. If a slightly lower-yielding variety has better disease resistance, earlier maturity, or lower seed cost, it may be more profitable overall. Yield is important but not the only economic factor.
University extension services publish annual variety trial results for major crops. Seed companies provide their own trial data. On-farm trials (planting two varieties side by side with the same management) give you the most locally relevant data.
Very important. A variety susceptible to your area's prevalent diseases will require additional fungicide applications ($15-$30/ac each) or suffer yield losses. Strong genetic resistance reduces input cost and protects yield with zero additional effort.
Yes. Planting 2-3 maturities and disease resistance packages spreads risk. If one variety underperforms due to weather or a new disease strain, others may compensate. Don't put all your acreage in one variety.
Trait packages add to seed cost but reduce herbicide and insecticide costs. Compare the total input cost (seed + chemicals) between traited and non-traited varieties. The net cost difference is often smaller than the seed price premium suggests.